Today, we share a year’s worth of findings in hopes of demonstrating the value of end-of-life (EOL) packs, identifying gaps where the industry may need support, and aiding policymakers as they begin to make critical decisions on how best to responsibly manage EV batteries at end-of-life.
In February of last year, Redwood launched the world’s first and most comprehensive electric vehicle battery recycling program, in California, with the support of Governor Newsom and several automotive partners. Our goal was to establish efficient, safe and effective recovery pathways for end-of-life hybrid and electric vehicle battery packs to be recycled and share our findings. Over the past twelve months, we worked with partners including Toyota, Ford Motor Company, Volvo Cars, and Volkswagen Group of America as well as dismantlers to collect and recycle lithium-ion and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) vehicle batteries. California is a longstanding leader in the transition to electric transportation and, as a result, is the oldest and one of the largest electric vehicle markets globally, with EVs compromising nearly 19% of all new car sales in the state in 2022. As the first wave of these vehicles begin to retire from roads, California’s management of end-of-life battery packs will serve as a model for other states and the battery recycling industry. Today, we share a year’s worth of findings in hopes of demonstrating the value of end-of-life (EOL) packs, identifying gaps where the industry may need support, and aiding policymakers as they begin to make critical decisions on how best to responsibly manage EV batteries at end-of-life.